Tide activated generator

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for mechanical storage of energy derived from the rotation of a first shaft and for driving a rotatable main shaft associated with a power generator comprising, in combination, means for rotating the first shaft, connecting means for communicating the rotation of the first shaft to a first sprocketed sheave, and gear train means connecting the rotatable main shaft to a second sprocketed sheave and adapted to cause a rate of rotation of the rotatable main shaft greater than the rate of rotation of the second sprocketed sheave, the first and second sprocketed sheaves being in communication with one another by means of continuous, flexible connecting means disposed on the first and second sprocketed sheaves in non-sliding relationship therewith, the continuous, flexible connecting means having disposed thereon a weight which is raised by the rotation of the first sprocketed sheave, the second sprocketed sheave being capable of being rotated by the descent of the weight to cause rotation of the rotatable main shaft.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 610,443, filed May 15, 1984,which is a continuation-in-part of pending, application, Ser. No.581,828, filed Feb. 21, 1984, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,242.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to power generation and storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, the invention features apparatus for mechanical storage ofenergy derived from the rotation of a first shaft and for driving arotatable main shaft associated with a power generator comprising, incombination, means for rotating the first shaft, connecting means forcommunicating the rotation of the first shaft to a first sprocketedsheave, and gear train means connecting the rotatable main shaft to asecond sprocketed sheave and adapted to cause a rate of rotation of therotatable main shaft greater than the rate of rotation of the secondsprocketed sheave, the first and second sprocketed sheaves being incommunication with one another by means of continuous, flexibleconnecting means disposed on the first and second sprocketed sheaves innon-sliding relationship therewith, the continuous, flexible connectingmeans having disposed thereon a weight which is raised by the rotationof the first sprocketed sheave, the second sprocketed sheave beingcapable of being rotated by the descent of the weight to cause rotationof the rotatable main shaft.

In preferred embodiments the flexible connecting means includes acontinuous loop of chain; gear train means is intermediate the firstshaft and the first sprocketed sheave; the second sprocketed sheave iscapable of being rotated by the descent of the weight to cause rotationof the main shaft to an extent sufficient to permit the rotatable mainshaft to achieve such rotation rate as is necessary to meet the desiredpower output of the power generator; the means for rotating the firstshaft is a windmill; a turbine activated by the flow of water; a motorpowered by solar energy; or apparatus for deriving energy from the riseand fall of a body of liquid including, in combination, float meansadapted to move substantially in a vertical plane in response to therise and fall of the body of liquid, means associated with the floatmeans for converting the vertical movement into reciprocating rotationalmovement of a drive shaft, a ratcheted differential adapted to convertthe reciprocating rotational movement of the drive shaft into rotationalmovement of the first shaft in a single direction, the ratcheteddifferential being associated with second gear train means forincreasing the rate of rotational movement of the drive or the firstshaft; the means for converting the vertical movement into reciprocatingrotational movement comprises a quadrant gear; the ratcheteddifferential is intermediate the first gear train means and the firstsprocketed sheave; the means for converting the vertical movement intoreciprocating rotational movement comprise rack and pinion gears; theweight of the float when the body of liquid is falling is substantiallyequal to the buoyancy of the float when the body of liquid is rising; aclutch is interposed between the second gear train means and theassociated ratcheted differential and the means associated with thefloat means for disconnection of the one from the other; the float meansis an anchored boat; the float means communicates the vertical movementto one side of a fulcrum, the fulcrum having on its other side means forconverting the vertical movement into reciprocating rotational movementof the drive shaft; and means for converting the vertical movement intorotational movement in a single direction comprises opposing rack gearscommunicating with pinion gears mounted on a pair of shafts, the pair ofshafts communicating with the drive shaft, and each of the pinion gearsbeing ratcheted such that only rotational movement thereof in apredetermined direction is communicated to the shaft upon which it ismounted.

In another aspect, the invention features apparatus for convertingreciprocating rectilinear motion into rotational movement of a driveshaft in a single direction comprising, in combination, a pair ofopposing rack gears, each of the rack gears being engaged with a piniongear mounted on a shaft, the pinion gears being in engagement one withthe other, and the shafts being in communication with the drive shaft,each of the pinion gears being ratcheted with respect to the shaft onwhich it is mounted such that only rotational movement of each of thepinion gears in a predetermined direction is communicated to the shaftupon which the pinion gear is mounted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The structure and operation of the preferred embodiments of theinvention will now be described, after first briefly describing thedrawings.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially sectioned, of a tideactivated generator of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the ratcheted differential of theapparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the weight, the sprocketed sheaves, andthe flexible connecting means of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric partial view of means for convertingreciprocating rectilinear movement of the float into rotational movementin a single direction.

STRUCTURE AND OPERATION

Referring to FIG. 1, the tide activated generator includes a float 12which is placed on the surface of a body of water, such as the ocean,near a stationary structure 14 on which the remainder of the apparatusis mounted. Float 12 has weight, when the tide is falling, substantiallyequal to its buoyancy when the tide is rising. Stationary structure 14may be on the shore, or on a man-made platform constructed for thepurpose of carrying the remainder of the apparatus. Float 12 isrestrained by lines and anchors (not shown) so that substantialhorizontal movement of the float on the body of water is avoided.

Attached to the upper surface 15 of float 12 is connector 16, one end ofwhich is attached to a lever arm 18, the fulcrum 20 of which is mountedon the shore. On the shore side of fulcrum 20 is quadrant gear 22 whichis rotated in response to the reciprocating vertical movement of leverarm 18 caused by the rise and fall of the tide. In order to disconnectgear train 24 from quadrant gear 22, e.g. for enabling maintenance workto be done on the apparatus, a clutch or "throw out" gear (not shown),of conventional design, may be conveniently interposed between geartrain 24 and quadrant gear 22.

The movement of quadrant gear 22 is transmitted, by conventional means,through gear train 24, schematically shown in FIG. 1. Gear train 24increases the rate of the rotational movement transmitted from quadrantgear 22, while its torque is decreased.

At the end of gear train 24 is ratcheted differential 26, best shown inFIG. 2, which converts the reciprocating rotational movement,transmitted by gear train 24 from quadrant gear 22, into rotationalmovement in a single direction.

Referring now to FIG. 2, ratcheted differential 26 has three bevel gears30, 32 and 34. Bevel gears 30 and 34 are mounted on shaft 28 whichcommunicates with gear train 24 and receives therefrom the reciprocatingrotational movement due to the rise and fall of the tide. The teeth ofbevel gears 30 and 34 are always engaged with the teeth of bevel gear32. Bevel gears 30 and 34 are ratcheted with respect to shaft 28, byconventional means, so that rotation of shaft 28 will be communicated tobevel gear 34 only when shaft 28 is rotating in a clockwise direction(as viewed in FIG. 2) and, conversely, only counter-clockwise rotationof shaft 28 (as viewed in FIG. 2) will be communicated from that shaftto bevel gear 30. Because of the ratcheted action within bevel gears 30and 34, bevel gear 32, which is mounted on, and drives, shaft 36, willbe driven in the same direction (as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2)both when the tide is rising and when it is falling.

Referring again to FIG. 1, there is mounted on shaft 36 sprocketedsheave 38 which is non-slidingly engaged with a portion of a continuousloop of chain 40 which extends over sheave 38, through sprocketed sheave42, which is attached to weight 44, and over sprocketed sheave 46.Sheave 46 is also non-slidingly engaged with the portion of chain 40with which it makes contact. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotation of sheave38, in the direction of the arrow, raises weight 44.

Sheave 46 is mounted on shaft 48 which transmits the rotational movementof sheave 46 through gear train 50, schematically shown in FIG. 1, topower shaft 52. Gear train 50 increases the rate of the rotationalmovement of sheave 46 while its torque is decreased. Power shaft 52 isassociated with a conventional generator 54 for generating electricpower.

Associated with sheave 46 is a control mechanism, not shown (which canbe of any of a variety of designs within the skill of an engineer ofordinary ability), capable of preventing the rotation of sheave 46 untilgenerator 54 is desired to be activated, and of controlling the tendencyof sheave 46 to rotate in the direction of the arrow (see FIG. 3) inresponse to gravitational force acting on weight 44. The controlmechanism permits the rotational rate of sheave 46 (and thus therotational rate of shaft 48) to be controlled such that only the ratenecessary to achieve the desired power output of generator 54 isprovided in shaft 48.

As shown in FIG. 1, weight 44 is suspended in well 56, beneath sheaves38 and 46. The depth of well 56 depends on the height of the tide andthe anticipated frequency of use of generator 54.

At installation, weight 44 is positioned towards the lower end of well56, and the control mechanism associated with sheave 46 is locked sothat rotation of shaft 48 is impeded. As the tide rises and falls, thatvertical movement is transmitted by lever arm 18 to quadrant gear 22which, through gear train 24 and ratcheted differential 26, causessheave 38 to rotate, thus raising weight 44.

When activation of generator 54 is desired, the control mechanism isreleased to the desired extent, thus permitting the force of gravityacting on weight 44 to cause sheave 46 to rotate. Because chain 40 is acontinuous loop, sheave 46 can be rotated at any time during the cycleof the tide. At slack water (at high and low tide) when there will belittle movement of lever arm 18, and thus little rotation of sheave 38,weight 44 will fall upon release of the control mechanism; similarly, ifpower demand is very severe, and the desired rotation rate of shaft 48is greater than that produced at sheave 38, weight 44 will fall. Atother times, however, when the per unit rate of potential energy storedis equal to the energy being provided to generator 54, the weight willappear to stand still. In this mode, there is in effect direct drive ofgenerator 54 from the tidal action. At still other times, when theenergy required at generator 56 is less than the energy input at sheave38, generator 54 may be driven even though the weight is rising. In thislast mode, the apparatus will store the excess energy, available fromthe tidal movement, by raising the weight.

In areas where inclement weather conditions are frequently experienced,the apparatus may be located some distance from the ocean so that thatportion of the apparatus on the ocean side of fulcrum 20 may beprotected from high seas. In such circumstances, the body of water uponwhich float 12 rests may be that contained in a man-made reservoir whichcommunicates with the ocean by any suitable aquaduct such that the bodyof water in the reservoir will rise and fall as ocean tide rises andfalls.

In place of connector 16, lever arm 18 and quadrant gear 22, a rack andpinion gear arrangement (as shown in FIG. 4) may be used to convert thevertiqal movement of float 12 into the rotational movement transmittedto gear train 24. In this mode, the need for ratcheted differential 26is eliminated.

Referring to FIG. 4, post 56 is attached to the upper surface of thefloat. At the upper end of post 56 is block 58 which has a cavity withinwhich are formed rack gears 60 and 62. Engaging respectively racks 60and 62 are pinion gears 64 and 66. The distance separating racks 60 and62 is such that the teeth of pinions 64 and 66 engage each other as wellas the adjacent racks.

Pinions 64 and 66 are mounted on shafts 68 and 70 respectively whichterminate, at one end, in bearings within block 72 which is rigidlymounted. At the other end of shafts 68 and 70 are mounted gears 74 and76, the teeth of which engage gear 78 which is mounted on drive shaft80. Drive shaft 80 communicates with gear train 24 in FIG. 1. Gears 74and 76 are disposed sufficiently apart to prevent engagement of theirteeth.

Pinion gears 64 and 66 are ratcheted (by conventional means), withrespect to the shafts on which they are mounted, so that rack 62communicates rotational movement to shaft 70 only when the float (andthus block 58) is rising on the tide, and rack 60 communicatesrotational movement to shaft 68 only when the float (and thus block 58)is falling with the tide. Thus, notwithstanding the rise and fall of thetide, shaft 80 rotates only in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.4.

Advantageously, because there is continuous engagement of rack gears andpinion gears in the rack and pinion gear arrangement of FIG. 4, greatstability is maintained in the unit. Additionally, throughout thereciprocation cycles, true engagement of pinion and rack gears ismaintained without slippage, thus eliminating wear on the gear teethcaused by slippage.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Other embodiments are within the following claims.

For example, in locations where it may be difficult or inconvenient toexcavate a well in which to suspend weight 44, well 56 may be replacedwith a tower in which weight 44 may be raised and lowered. Also, float12 may be a docked boat to which lever arm 18 is attached, or theportion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as being attached to stationarystructure 14 may be placed on e.g. a boat tied to, or at anchor near, adock, with lever arm 18 attached to the dock. The portion of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1 as being attached to stationary structure 14may be placed on a boat, with lever arm 18 extending over the side ofthe boat and connector 16 attached to the ocean floor. Indeed, anyarrangement in which reciprocating vertical movement about fulcrum 20 isachieved may be harnessed to practice my invention.

Also, as mentioned earlier, the source of the rotational movementtransmitted to shaft 36, for rotation of sheave 38, need not be the riseand fall of a body of water. For example, a windmill or similar windactivated device, a turbine or similar device activated by moving water,or a motor driven by solar energy, may be used to provide power forrotating shaft 36.

In another embodiment, rotation of shaft 36 can be used to drive a pumpfor raising liquid from a reservoir into an elevated holding tank fromwhich the liquid is released to drive e.g. a turbine for the generationof electricity. The liquid at the discharge end of the turbine may beconducted into the reservoir from which the liquid is pumped, thusestablishing a closed-loop recycling of the liquid.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for mechanically storing energy derivedfrom the rotation of a first shaft and a for driving a rotatable mainshaft associated with a power generator comprising, in combination,meansfor deriving energy from the rise and fall of a body of liquid forrotation of said first shaft, said means comprising, incombination,float means adapted to move substantially in a verticalplane in response to said rise and fall of said body of liquid, meansassociated with said float means for converting said vertical movementinto reciprocating rotational movement of a drive shaft, a ratcheteddifferential adapted to convert said reciprocating rotational movementof said drive shaft into rotational movement of said first shaft in asingle direction, said ratcheted differential being means for convertingsaid vertical movement into reciprocating rotational movement of saiddrive shaft, said means for converting said vertical movement intorotational movement in a single direction comprising opposing rack gearscommunicating with pinion gears mounted on a pair of shafts, said pairof shafts communicating with said drive shaft, and each of said piniongears being ratcheted such that only rotational movement thereof in apredetermined direction is communicated to the shaft upon which it ismounted, connecting means for communicating said rotation of said firstshaft to a first sprocketed sheave, and gear train means connecting saidrotatable main shaft to a second sprocketed sheave and adapted to causea rate of rotation of said rotatable main shaft greater than the rate ofrotation of said second sprocketed sheave, said first and secondsprocketed sheaves being in communication with one another by means ofcontinuous, flexible connecting means disposed on said first and secondsprocketed sheaves in non-sliding relationship therewith, saidcontinuous, flexible connecting means having disposed thereon a weightwhich is raised by the rotation of said first sprocketed sheave, saidsecond sprocketed sheave being capable of being rotated by the descentof said weight to cause rotation of said rotatable main shaft, saidfirst sprocketed sheave and said second sprocketed sheave being adaptedto rotate independently in response to rate of energy derivation andenergy requirement, respectively, and said weight disposed therebetweenbeing adapted to be raised and lowered on said continuous flexibleconnecting means in automatic response to difference in energyderivation and energy requirement.
 2. Apparatus for convertingreciprocating rectilinear motion into rotational movement of a driveshaft in a single direction comprising, in combination,a pair ofopposing rack gears, each said rack gear being engaged with a piniongear mounted on a shaft, said pinion gears being in engagement one withthe other, and said shafts being in communication with said drive shaft,each of said pinion gears being ratcheted with respect to the shaft onwhich it is mounted such that only rotational movement of each saidpinion gear in a predetermined direction is communicated to said shaftupon which said pinion gear is mounted.